Function:

In the beginning, there was no analog controller. ?Dual Shock? meant finding out you had failed a final exam and your girlfriend had left you at the same time. The PlayStation was just about to be introduced to the gaming market... a new player in a previously monopolized industry. Sony had to introduce a very simple controller with their system -- easy enough for Super Nintendo and Sega gamers to catch on to, but offering more varied inputs for better and more involved interaction with the game. Sony?s was right on the mark. Sporting two pairs of shoulder buttons (an improvement of the SNES?s one pair), the Original PSX Controller had more buttons (inputs) than the SNES controller, and had a better layout than the Sega Genesis (and Saturn). The new Sony system?s Original Controller stepped out with two ideas:

a controller will be held in the hands, so they should be ergonomically designed, and

replacing the A, B, X, and Y button configuration, which was quickly becoming an industry standard, with easily recognizable yet arbitrary symbols, allowing for more freedom in assigning functions to the buttons.

Performance:

For those unfamiliar with the PlayStation, it may take a bit of time to get used to the uniquely labeled buttons. But it shouldn?t take an avid gamer very long to catch on. The new setup allows for variance from a standardized run, jump, fire setup, but gamers are now required to learn specific configurations for each game. Most games compensate for this by offering a few different configurations to choose from in the Options menu.

The Sony PlayStation Original Controller is a truly great design. It?s been a few years since the PlayStation entered the market, yet the vast majority of gaming accessory companies have stayed as true to the original Sony design as is legally possible. Even now that Sony has developed a Dual Shock analog controller, there are still some advantages to the Original PlayStation Controller. Being a standard controller (sans motors and extra chips and/or circuits), this controller is lighter than the Dual Shock, and is more suitable for hours of continued use without fatigue. The original Sony standard controller proves that great designs stand the test of time.

Features:

Fashionable light gray housing won?t clash with your PSX

Eight-way floating D-pad

Brightly colored, clearly labeled action buttons

Comfortable and responsive shoulder buttons

Ergonomic design

6?8? cord

Drawbacks & Problems::

This controller may be antiquated at this point, and it may not have a lot of bells and whistles, but it is quite possibly the most solid controller to play sports games, strategy games, or puzzle games with. For these genres of games, the Sony PlayStation Original Controller is still a worthy contender.